Netherlands enters first major gambling licences renewal cycle in 2026

The Netherlands is entering a significant phase in the development of its regulated online gambling market as the first wave of gambling licences granted after the October 2021 market opening approaches the end of its initial five-year term. The renewal process is expected to become one of the most closely watched regulatory developments for Dutch operators during 2026.

The Kansspelautoriteit, known as the Ksa, confirmed that online gambling licences issued in September 2021 expire on 1 October 2026 because they were granted for a maximum period of five years. The regulator introduced updated licensing rules from 1 January 2026 to provide a framework for both new applicants and existing operators seeking a continuation licence.

First renewal cycle brings closer scrutiny

The upcoming renewal process is materially different from the initial licensing round. Operators seeking to remain active must undergo a new assessment rather than simply receive an automatic extension of their existing permissions.

The Ksa's 2026 policy framework states that continuation applicants will be assessed on several areas including addiction prevention policies, recruitment and advertising practices and the integration of their control database. Applicants must also meet new requirements concerning matters such as their approach to material changes in business operations, exit planning and anti-money laundering risk analysis.

The regulator has also made clear that compliance history can form part of the assessment. Operators that have made mistakes during the previous five years are expected to explain how they have learned from those situations and what measures have been introduced to prevent a recurrence. Where the Ksa considers the explanation insufficient, the regulator can refuse a licence or impose additional conditions or restrictions.

This makes the first renewal cycle more significant than a routine administrative procedure. Licence holders must demonstrate not only that their current operations comply with Dutch requirements but also that their governance and compliance systems are capable of meeting the regulator's expectations going forward.

Licence dates vary across operators

The first group of operators to face the renewal cycle includes several well-known names that received licences for the start of the regulated market.

The publicly available Ksa licence decisions confirm that Holland Casino, Bingoal and TOTO Online each received online gambling licences covering the period from 1 October 2021 through 30 September 2026.

The same expiry date applies to several other operators. BetCity's licence, held by Betent B.V., runs through 30 September 2026. Hillside, which operates bet365 in the Netherlands, also holds a licence covering the same period. Play North Limited's Dutch licence for its Kansino brand likewise runs until 30 September 2026.

Jacks.nl is on a slightly different timetable. The Ksa's published decision shows that its licence runs from 20 November 2021 through 19 November 2026. That means the operator has additional time beyond the 1 October group but remains part of the wider first renewal cycle.

The dates are important because the Dutch online market did not open with every operator entering at precisely the same point. Later entrants therefore have later expiry dates. OneCasino, for example, received its Dutch online gambling licence for the period from 5 October 2022 through 4 October 2027.

Unibet is also outside the October 2026 group. Its current Dutch licence is valid from 8 June 2022 through 7 June 2027.

These dates show why the renewal process should be viewed as a rolling regulatory cycle rather than a single deadline affecting the entire market.

Renewal claims require careful verification

Some market reports have suggested that certain major operators, including Holland Casino, Bingoal and TOTO Online, have already secured new five-year licences.

However, the Ksa licence records publicly accessible at the time of this review continue to show their original licences as valid through 30 September 2026. The available official records therefore do not independently confirm that those operators have already received replacement five-year licences.

For that reason, claims concerning completed renewals should be treated cautiously unless supported by a new Ksa decision or an official announcement from the relevant operator. This distinction is particularly important in a regulated market where licensing status has direct legal significance.

The broader point remains clear: the Ksa has established a formal continuation-licence procedure and operators approaching the end of their initial terms are required to engage with that process.

Dutch gambling rules have changed significantly

The market seeking renewal in 2026 is not the same market that opened in 2021.

Dutch authorities introduced progressively tighter restrictions on gambling advertising after the regulated online market launched. In 2022, the government announced a ban on the use of role models in gambling advertising while also moving to restrict untargeted advertising. The restrictions were subsequently expanded, with untargeted advertising for online gambling prohibited through television, radio and public spaces and sponsorship restrictions introduced in stages.

The advertising framework has continued to tighten. In June 2026, the Dutch government announced plans for a broader ban on advertising for online gambling. The proposals also include a ban on bonuses and further measures aimed at strengthening player protection. The government said it was additionally examining whether the number of online gambling licence holders should be limited.

These developments create a markedly different compliance environment from the one operators entered at the beginning of the regulated market.

Higher taxation adds another pressure

Operators are also facing a substantially different fiscal environment.

The Dutch government increased the gambling tax rate from 30.5% to 34.2% in 2025 before raising it again to 37.8% from 1 January 2026. The government has acknowledged that the measure could have significant consequences for the gambling market and its operators.

For operators seeking continuation licences, the combination of stricter advertising requirements, stronger player-protection expectations and higher taxation creates a more demanding operating environment.

The renewal assessment itself is not simply a financial test. The Ksa's rules place particular emphasis on regulatory compliance, responsible gambling controls, advertising practices, technical systems and the ability of applicants to demonstrate that identified weaknesses have been addressed.

What operators must demonstrate

The continuation process gives the regulator an opportunity to assess how the Dutch market has developed since its launch.

Among the areas subject to renewed attention are addiction prevention, advertising and recruitment policies and the technical control database used for regulatory supervision. Applicants must also provide information required under the updated licensing framework including an anti-money laundering risk analysis and an exit plan.

The emphasis on previous compliance is also notable. The Ksa has deliberately designed the five-year licence period so that experience gained through supervision can be taken into account when an operator applies for another term.

That approach means the first renewal cycle could establish an important precedent for the Dutch market. Operators will not only be seeking permission to continue their businesses. They will also be demonstrating how their compliance structures have evolved under the country's post-2021 regulatory framework.

A defining moment for the Dutch market

The 2026 renewal cycle is therefore likely to have consequences beyond individual operators. It will provide an early indication of how the Ksa intends to apply its updated licensing framework and how the regulator balances market access with consumer protection.

For operators, securing a continuation licence will require careful preparation and evidence that regulatory obligations are being addressed systematically. For the regulator, the process offers an opportunity to assess whether the first five years of regulated online gambling have produced the level of control and protection originally intended.

The market has also moved into a period where advertising freedoms are narrower, gambling tax is considerably higher and government policy is increasingly focused on limiting exposure to gambling and strengthening safeguards for vulnerable groups.

Conclusion

The first major renewal cycle for Dutch gambling licences represents a natural test of the country's regulated online gambling model. The initial five-year licences were designed to give the Ksa an opportunity to build regulatory experience and then apply that experience when considering whether operators should continue.

By 2026, the regulatory landscape has become substantially more demanding. Advertising restrictions have expanded, player-protection requirements have received greater attention and the gambling tax rate has increased significantly. At the same time, the Ksa has introduced a more detailed continuation-licence framework that places greater emphasis on compliance history, governance and the ability to correct shortcomings.

The coming renewal decisions will therefore be important not only for the operators involved but also for the future structure of the Dutch online gambling market. They could help define which business practices are considered sustainable under the next phase of regulation while giving policymakers a clearer picture of how the licensed market is responding to increasingly strict consumer-protection objectives.

For now, the most reliable position is to distinguish confirmed licence dates from unconfirmed renewal claims. The Ksa's published records provide a clear timetable for the first wave of expiries while the final outcome for individual operators depends on the regulator's formal continuation decisions. That makes 2026 a pivotal year for gambling licences in the Netherlands and a closely watched moment for the country's regulated gambling sector.

FAQs

What are gambling licences in the Netherlands?
Gambling licences are regulatory permissions issued by the Kansspelautoriteit that allow approved operators to offer specified gambling products legally in the Dutch market.

When do the first Dutch online gambling licences expire?
The first major group of licences issued for the regulated online market expires on 30 September 2026, with the next day marking the start of the next licensing period.

Which operators face the first renewal cycle?
Several operators that received licences for the market opening in October 2021 face renewal around the end of September 2026. These include Holland Casino, TOTO Online, Bingoal, BetCity, bet365 and Kansino.

Does a Dutch gambling licence renew automatically?
No. Existing operators must apply for a continuation licence and undergo the assessment required by the Kansspelautoriteit.

What does the Ksa examine during licence renewal?
The Ksa can assess areas including addiction prevention, advertising and recruitment policies, technical control systems, reliability, anti-money laundering measures and previous compliance.

Can a continuation licence be refused?
Yes. The Ksa's 2026 policy framework allows a continuation application to be refused where the applicant does not satisfy the applicable requirements or where explanations concerning previous compliance issues are considered insufficient.

Why are gambling licences important for operators?
A Dutch gambling licence provides the legal basis for offering regulated gambling services to consumers in the Netherlands and places the operator under the supervision and requirements of the Ksa.

Have Dutch gambling advertising rules become stricter?
Yes. The Netherlands has introduced several restrictions since the online market opened in 2021 and the government announced further plans in 2026 to prohibit online gambling advertising more broadly.

Has gambling tax increased in the Netherlands?
Yes. The gambling tax rate increased to 34.2% in 2025 and to 37.8% from 1 January 2026.

What happens after the first renewal cycle?
The Dutch market will continue through rolling licence expiries because operators entered the regulated market at different times. Later entrants therefore have different renewal dates.